West Virginia Railroad Museum in Elkins WV

[@michaelball760]

My town was a company town when it started. Everyone working for the company got paid in scrip. My great grandfather told me about that when he was running steam locomotives out here.

[@ccrx6700]

Awesome Michael I did not know the RR's also paid in scrip, but guess that pretty much figures they would. Thanks so much for sharing that info with me. I learned something new tonight.

[@paulsmith5398]

My late wifes step-grandfather was the driving force behind getting better pay and working conditions for the miners. He also was instrumental in getting compensation for the many miners that acquired "black lung" disease (black damp). The Smithsonian came to his house, and recorded everything he knew and went through during his years as a coal miner, and he had worked at the Peabody Mine #5 in Sherman Illinois, where he was shot point blank in the abdomen with a flare gun by the military during the "coal mine wars" against John L. Lewis. He survived that, and lived many years after, to tell all his experiences to the Smithsonian.

[@gusshadleythelunaticfromar7125]

Hey Paul when I was a youngster I went to a UMWA rally in Wise county. WA Tony Boyle. Was there along with Geoge Tittler. They were the old heads, that were with John L Lewis.

[@ccrx6700]

Those were exceedingly hard days for the miners back then as you well know Paul. I told you in the video about my grandfather working at Buckeye Mine. They lived in a company house and he told me stories of the coal and iron police riding horses right into people's houses. He was also a force in obtaining better working conditions for the miners. I have a picture here of him with John Lewis at a UMWA convention. My great grandfather came over from Sweden in 1903 to work in the mines, simply horrible conditions for them then before the unions. I would love to read that article. If you have a copy of it maybe you can send me the month and year it was published and I'll look on Ebay or Amazon to see if one is for sale.

[@paulsmith5398]

@@ccrx6700 there is only one copy that i know of that my late wifes step-grandfather gave to the Smithsonian, and thats the one he recorded for them. You would have to go there to hear it, as it was all recorded, and not written down. Its sure nice to know that there were others besides my late wifes John "Pop" Fancher being involved with getting the miners better pay and working conditions! Hope you all are having a great 2023, ive come down with that RSV virus 😦😵❗

[@ericsikma4764]

The train horns in the video gave a flashback. In Alaska, I installed a 4-pack, compressor and tank, wired into the horn on a pickup truck for a guy. About 3 days pass and I'm in another town clearing leaves from gutters on a commercial building. About 3/4 mile away in a grocery store parking lot I heard the very familiar blare of train horns followed by car alarms EVERYWHERE over there. The prevailing first thought was, "Yup. Jason's in town..." (He didn't have to tell me twice who it was, THAT's for sure.) 🤣🙃To my knowledge, no one had to go out and reset their car alarms...."PERHAPS"...

[@ccrx6700]

Sounds like you're gonna have to pay me a visit Eric and install one of those horn kits in my dump trucks! We on the RR once rented a Kenworth hi rail dump that had a cool toot toot horn it, sounded like a small steam engine. I wanted that horn but was afraid to take it off the truck, everyone would know where it had gone! Thanks for watching and sharing my friend.

[@valeriebassett3107]

My dad bought us a horse that was supposed to go to work in the mines. When they worked in the mines they would go blind. He turned out to be the best horse. I'm so glad that we saved him from that. Happy New Year to you and your wife. !

[@ccrx6700]

That was a job under ground for one of the miners, it was his steady job taking care of the horses and mules. Your dad sure saved that horse from a life of hard work and misery. The air underground was not always good besides the damp darkness and coal dust. They didn't have respirators for the horses nor the miner's back then. Horses died young and many miner's got black lung disease like my grand father did. Thanks for the well wishes Valerie and may you and Steve have a most prosperous coming new year.

[@georgew.5639]

I owe my soul to the company store. Sixteen tons.

[@ccrx6700]

That was pretty much the story for all the miners back then George, that song has a lot of meaning and truth in it. Very much appreciate your visiting with us for the tour my friend.

[@truthseeking3818]

Looks like a great time! Thanks for the video as always friend.

[@ccrx6700]

It was a fun visit, little place but a lot of cool stuff many of which I didn't know. Really appreciate your taking the tour with me my friend.

[@waynegarrison2481]

Lived 30 miles from there. Dryfork. You have been there. Bonner mountain road. As usual another Great video..

[@ccrx6700]

I remember you saying that Wayne, figure you've probably been to the museum. I like how they put a lot of focus on coal. Always is a pleasure to have you visit with us my friend. Thank You.

[@tzadik36]

Thank you for this video. An assortment of items bringing to mind bits & pieces out of the lives of communities for entire generations. There was dependability among people both horizontally (community) and vertically (hierarchy).

[@ccrx6700]

Very well stated Robin, things were a lot different back then, like you said the people stuck together and helped each other out. Excellent comment my friend. Really appreciate your taking the tour with us.

[@ryanfrogz]

That MOW Cadillac sure is something. Thanks for the (virtual) tour, Dave!

[@paulhare662]

Interesting how much it resembles the recent trend of putting giant wheels on 80s Caprices and calling them Donks.

[@ryanfrogz]

@@paulhare662 The idea of a ‘donked’ 50s Cadillac is just awful...

[@ccrx6700]

It was Ryan, I had never seen that before. Small museum but a lot of interesting stuff. I specially like their focus on coal. Always is a pleasure to have you pay us a visit my friend.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Cool tour and museum Dave! Happy New Year our friend, from All of us at SSRP! (Dave).

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Dave, it was a small museum but had some pretty cool stuff I've never seen before. I really like the focus they put on coal. But that was the bread and butter for most WV RR;s along with lumber. May you and everyone at SSRP have a most prosperous coming new year.

[@Arkay315]

That's a nice museum, I really liked seeing the old whistles on display.

[@ccrx6700]

It is small arkay but has a lot of cool stuff I've never seen. I really liked they had a focus on coal transportation, but that was the bread and butter for a lot of WV railroads. Always appreciate your faithfulness in watching and writing in my friend.

[@richardaustin2640]

Wonderful tour Dave, sure is some history there! Love that speeder and the attention to detail with the spoked wheels. Hope the seat was well sprung! We are indeed fortunate that railways attract so much interest from young and old alike.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Richard, glad you enjoyed. It was a small place but a lot of interesting stuff in it. I really liked they put a focus on coal. Very much appreciate your visiting with us my friend and taking the tour.

[@pauld.1256]

That was interesting Dave… l owe my soul to the company store!!! Quite the life back then… but it was a way of living for many a family… I’m fortunate to own a cobalt blue lantern from the Pennsylvania Line… and multiple other colors… my grandfather said the blue ones were very hard to get a hold of..

[@ccrx6700]

Very glad you like the show tonight Paul. I'm jealous, would love to have a blue one. Good for you! My red lantern I got for Christmas last year is also a PRR. Yes it was a hard life back then for the miner's and they did indeed owe their soul to the company store. Michael Ball wrote in and said back then the RR;s often paid in scrip also, I did not know that. Someday I'll tell the story of my grandfather working in the mines, living in a company house and buying everything from the company store. Always appreciate your great comments my friend.

[@charlesferebee263]

Great Looking E units. 👌

[@ccrx6700]

Those locos did look pretty good for as old as they are Charles. Thanks so much for paying us a visit and watching. We rode that scenic train and here is a link to a video to go on part of our ride if you would like to view it sometime. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4GcnqOjr7-faM0

[@paulsmith5398]

@@ccrx6700 YIKES! Those are the shorter "F-units"! "E-units" are longer and have 6-wheel trucks, and 2 prime-movers inside instead of just one. YIKES! again!

[@alkennedy1124]

Happy new year buddy I love the channel thanks BigAl California

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Al for all your wonderful support of the channel. May you also have a most prosperous coming new year my friend.

[@trenamerritt5344]

Another rail story gem! Thank you for taking us along to see these bits of rail history when you go. Always liked to go to places like this, but not just for rails tho. Always something to learn!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Trena for the very nice comment. You always say such kind words. It was a small place but had a lot of neat stuff in it. Really appreciate all the wonderful support you have given the channel my friend.

[@johnkelley9877]

That was interesting Dave! I did not know about how CSX came about but now I do. I remember Conrail merger though. Thanks for sharing this.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed John. There was a lot of interest there something for every rail and train fan. I learned some new stuff, and was very pleased to see them put a lot of focus on coal. Thanks so much for paying us a visit today my friend.

[@garykuipers2696]

I rode on the Western Maryland from Hagerstown to Connelsville as a trainman with the High Iron Co. in the 1970's, a bus man's holiday. Thanks for sharing this nice little museum with us.

[@ccrx6700]

Nice Gary, Connellsville is only 30 minutes from me, now a CSX yard there and Amtrac station. It was owned and operated by WM. B&O had an interchange not far from that yard. It was a small place but had some pretty neat stuff in it. I really liked how they focused on coal. Thanks so much my good friend for all your wonderful support of the channel and great comments you have given.

[@tomharrington1393]

Happy New Year Dave and family 🚂🚂🚂

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Tom, may you and yours also have a most prosperous coming new year my friend.

[@melchristian8876]

Thank you for sharing for showing your videos I like to watch you and your wife and your family a very happy New Year also wishing everyone else a very Happy New Year happy New Year everyone!!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Mel for the very nice comment. We certainly do appreciate all your wonderful support and great comments you have given us. May you and your family also have a most prosperous coming new year my friend. It's gonna be a great year at CCRX

[@hughgautier3894]

With the Mississippi River going through a drought, it'll be up to the railroads to haul the goods across this country. Yup, I keep up with lots of things.

[@ccrx6700]

The railroads are the back bone of this countries transportation system. This country was built on the RR's and they will keep it going despite all the problems they face. Thanks so much my friend for watching and writing in tonight.

[@mikemissel7785]

Happy New Year Dave and family coal still powers the world. When people are cold they will use coal to warm their homes.

[@ccrx6700]

May you have a most prosperous new year also Mike. Thank You. The demand for coal right now is tremendous. We cannot keep up with demand and neighboring Baily Mine (Consol Energy) sold 23 million tons this past year. We have sales for 2023 of 7 million and contracts already written into 2026. Thanks for watching my friend.

[@margaretragle1337]

Awesome video and you have a great holiday.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you so much Margaret, glad you enjoyed. We really appreciate your visiting with us and writing in my friend. This was a small, but very interesting museum, we loved it.

[@wilburroth5150]

Nice tour and great history lesson too.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed Wilbur, appreciate the nice comment and for your taking the time to watch and write in my friend. It was a very nice place to visit for us. learned some new cool things I did not know.

[@michaelpass2176]

Have a great new years eve1😊

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Michael, may you also and have a most prosperous coming new year my friend.

[@shirleyharrington-moore9657]

Did the company store offer fair prices? I had never seen a speeder. Since the doctor treated workers along the tracks, the inclines must not have been steep. Fascinating. I enjoyed visiting the museum. Thank you, Dave, for including me.

[@ccrx6700]

Store was in business to make money, but I have no idea if the prices were fair or not. In Nemacolin where by grand father worked in the mines, the company owned the store, they owned all the houses and they ran the medical clinic. They basically owned the miners. it was a nice museum had a lot of cool stuff for how small it was.

[@rickcooper6817]

Thanks Dave! I got to visit there 3 summers ago and it's such a neat place. Lots of history in that area. I took my cousin to visit all the Hatfield and McCoy graveyards in that area as she was related to both families on her father's side. To say the least it was an interesting trip.

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Rick how cool you also were there. I really liked it. For a small place it had some really neat stuff. Specially liked the focus they had on coal. Always enjoy hearing from you my friend. We really appreciate all the wonderful support you have given the channel.

[@lewistodd9242]

I love you history lessons and tours of train museums. I enjoyed watching you this morning with my morning coffee. Have a happy and safe New Year my friend.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you very much Lewis for all your great comments and the wonderful support you have given the channel my friend. We do appreciate you my friend.

[@garymessina1609]

Great tour great museum we have nothing like this in New England you know it's just fantastic to see learning experience thanks Dave for a great day

[@ccrx6700]

Thanks Gary for the really nice comment. It was a small place but had some really cool stuff. Of course you know I loved that they focused on coal. Really appreciate your watching and for all the wonderful support you have given the channel my friend.

[@northdetroit7994]

Always a pleasure.

[@ccrx6700]

Very glad to hear you enjoyed today's presentation northdetroit. We very much appreciate your watching and writing in my friend.

[@jbmorrow5390]

Enjoyable remembering our visit there several years ago! Happy New Year!

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed the presentation JB. Cool you were also there. A small place but had a lot of pretty cool stuff. Really appreciate your watching and may you also have a most prosperous coming new year my friend.

[@raymondsprengelmeyer1278]

Thank you for the great tour Dave! You always have an interesting video!

[@ccrx6700]

Your very welcome Raymond. Thank you so much for your very kind words. We really appreciate all the wonderful support you have given the channel my friend.

[@davenitsch6094]

Great video and tour Dave!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you very much Dave. it was a small place but had a lot of interesting stuff in it. I learned some things I did not know and liked how they focused on coal. Really appreciate your visiting with me my friend. PS: what a beautiful stone wall you have there with the fire place in it. I loved that.

[@kls816]

Awesome Dave! Thanks for taking us along! Hope you had a great Christmas and happy new year!!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Kerry. Very glad you enjoyed. Always a pleasure to hear from you. may you also have a most prosperous coming new year my friend.

[@billsmith3195]

Aaaaand a very happy and blessed New Year to you and That's Railroading Dave. Heres to another good year Dave and to your good wife. My wife's 75th Birthday today.

[@ccrx6700]

Happy Birthday to Mrs. Smith. May you and her have a most prosperous coming new year my friend. Really appreciate all the wonderful support you have given the channel and all your great comments.

[@hughgautier3894]

Those cars that I saw didn't have anyone in them. Dave, I still have the American Flier electric train from the early '50s.

[@ccrx6700]

Awesome Hugh. I have my Lionel steam train from early 1960. Never had an American Flyer. Good for you! Really appreciate all the wonderful support and great comments you have given the channel my friend. May you have a most prosperous coming new year.

[@ericcoffedgp40]

Man excellent coverage! That MoW Cadillac is something else!

[@ccrx6700]

It was pretty cool Eric, I had never seen an actual automobile on rails. The W&W RR here had a very old truck they ran in the rails. Thanks so much for watching my friend.

[@ericcoffedgp40]

@ccrx 6700 That's Railroadin! The B&O RR museum has a 1936 Oldsmobile 4 dr sedan hi railer. It looks pretty neat!

[@tomeasley5979]

Dave, thanks for the great HISTORY tour. It was wonderful. What a fun time. Happy New Year to you and your wife.

[@ccrx6700]

Your very welcome Tom. This was a small museum but had a lot of cool stuff in it. I really liked how they put the focus on coal. So glad you enjoyed the tour and we most certainly appreciate all the great support you have given the channel my friend. May you also have a most prosperous coming new year.

[@daviddauphin838]

Good morning,Happy New Year. I remember Railway Express.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed the presentation today David. Thank you and may you also have a most prosperous coming new year my friend.

[@johncloar1692]

Thanks Dave for another great video.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed John. It was a small museum but had some nifty stuff. I really liked they focused on coal. Always appreciate your watching and writing in my friend.

[@Paw95]

That big diesel Western maryland locomotive passed me one day when I was fishing in the mountains.

[@ccrx6700]

Hope you caught a lot of fish that day. Really appreciate your watching and for all the wonderful support you have given the channel my friend.

[@Jeremy-de2of]

There is also a old tunnel down here coming out of Sanderson that collapsed on the old steam locomotives as it was going through the tunnel had to excavate to dig it out

[@ccrx6700]

Oh wow, what a mess that must have been! Thank you for touring the museum with us my friend. it is a nice place.

[@briankemp5206]

Coll Museum Dave, thanks for sharing!

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed Brian. It was small but did have a good bit of interesting stuff. I liked how they focused on coal. Thanks for stopping by my friend.

[@bobandbarbkozminski1578]

Awesome museum tour Dave. Thank you and Happy New Year to you and your family.

[@ccrx6700]

Very glad you enjoyed Bob and Barb. We really appreciate your watching and for all your wonderful support you have given the channel my friends.

[@Boilermaker-Rick]

Awesome place!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Rick glad you liked the tour. It was small but had some really cool stuff, I specially liked how they focused on coal. Always is a pleasure to have you visit with me my friend.

[@BeeLineEast]

Cool video. Never heard of of that Cadillac before. Cool info I never knew about. If you ever get out to see the Reading and Northern 2102 check out the Reading R.R. museum. They have old engines R.R cars etc. They also have an old Reading locomotive crane. Also old track components laying outside also. Nice video Happy New Year.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Michael, I had never seen a car like that either. W&W RR here used to have an old truck they out fitted for rails, but it sure was no Cadillac. We are going to take a trip to R&N sometime, I did not know about the museum there, will definitely check it out and appreciate your telling me about it my friend.

[@BeeLineEast]

@@ccrx6700 You are quite welcome and have a Happy New year. The Museum is in Hamburg Pa.

[@ccrx6700]

@@BeeLineEast thank you Michael. I've been Hamburg but that was when I was a boy.

[@mikep1085]

Neat stuff! Years ago I took the family to the Beckley WV Coal Mine Museum... that was awesome! They took us down into the mine (closed mine). It was very cool! 😎 Happy New Year Dave!

[@ccrx6700]

Nice Mike, I did not know one was at Beckley. Will have to consider visiting that, thanks for letting me know. Hope you also have a most prosperous coming new year my friend.

[@dorothycole8611]

Interesting little museum, nice pictures.

[@ccrx6700]

it was a small place but had some neat stuff in it. Really appreciate all your wonderful support of the channel and nice comments you send in.

[@rebelrailroader]

Nice little museum. Thanks for sharing that. I've not heard of a blue flag meaning another train cant pass. I know it as whatever the blue flag is attached to can't be touched or operated by anyone. The only one allowed to remove the blue flag is the one who put it up. We had a customer who used blue flags on the switches on our mainline. We had to sign in etc to work on the switch. I wouldnt mind having a couple of those pictures they have for sale. Those Y6 pictures are beautiful.

[@ccrx6700]

It was a pretty neat place for it being so small Zach. Really glad to hear you enjoyed the show. I would have loved to have some of the pictures also, but wow were they expensive. Always a pleasure to have you visit with us my good friend.

[@Hyrev1]

Another fine video Dave! Thanks for sharing a little more rail history..its always interesting to see how things evolved. Take care my friend and Happy New Year! 🚂🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃💯👍🎉

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you very much Jim, so glad you enjoyed. This was a small but very interesting museum. I liked that they focused on coal. Always a pleasure to have you visit and may you also have a most prosperous coming new year my friend.

[@mikeashely8198]

My best railroads are the C&O and the s o o lines on the East Coast West Coast the old days of Santa Fe as well as Truckee

[@ccrx6700]

Growing up around here we had Chessie Mike, I loved their loco colors and still is my favorite livery. C&O and SOO so much great history. Thank you so much for taking the time to watch the show and write in tonight my friend.

[@Eddy63]

Great little tour Dave ... Thx for these vids and have a great Happy New Year ...

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you liked it Eddy. it was a small place but had some pretty neat stuff, some of which I had never seen before. Really appreciate your watching and for all your wonderful support of the channel my friend.

[@rgiordano8224]

If Blue lamps are for halting forward progress. What do other colored lanterns mean? Clear and red....are there any other color used?

[@ccrx6700]

Different RR's sometimes used different colors for different meanings but for the most part the colors were standardized. This site is pretty good at telling what some of the colors meant. www.railroadiana.org/globes/pgRRGlassColors.php

[@KWMeikle]

Thanks for the tour.

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Kevin, a small place but had some pretty neat stuff in it. Always appreciate your taking the time to watch my friend.

[@jonnycando]

Coal still butters our bread on the C&O part of CSX!

[@ccrx6700]

Awesome Jonny. CSX and NS here hauls a tremendous amount of coal. The demand for coal right now is incredible, we cannot keep up with orders. Baily Mine (our neighbor) sold 23 million tons in 2022. We have sales of 7 million for 2023 and contracts already written into 2026. Keep those coal trains moving my friend! Really appreciate your watching and writing in today. PS: the more electric cars they make, the more the demand for coal to power them there will be....:-)

[@4everdc302]

A great tour. Just awesome. Happy ya took the time to bring this to us. Happy New Year Dave&Family👷🚂🇨🇦🇺🇲🙋

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed Doug. it was small but had some pretty neat stuff in it. You know I liked that they focused on coal. Really appreciate all the wonderful support and great comments you have given the channel my good friend.

[@4everdc302]

@@ccrx6700 Won't miss it👍

[@brianhickey5949]

Fascinating history and equipment! Your knowledge of railroading is extensive, sir! I did not know how CSX came about and that is cool. As for the scrip - I guess there was no other option in those days. I would think actual gold and silver coins would be much better :) Happy New Year to you and yours!

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed Brian. Was a small place but had a lot of interesting history. I liked how they focused on coal. Back in those days coal mining and railroading were hard, took men of real fortitude. Very much appreciate all the wonderful support you have given the channel and all your great comments my friend. May you also have a most prosperous coming new year.

[@beverlymichael5830]

Very nice tour of the museum. You need a Cadillac to ride the rails Dave!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Beverly. I'm kinda liking the idea of riding the rails in a Caddy instead of my hi rail truck! Course I'd have to junk up the back seat with tools and bolts and spikes....:-) Really appreciate your watching and writing in today my friend.

[@TriGogglin]

Nice tour Dave, great stuff in there, the lanterns and that pedal speeder was my favorite.. Happy New Year

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed it Pappy, guess you will soon be paying them a visit too. It's small but has some really neat stuff in it, I sure didn't show everything there was so I'll let you do a video on showing the rest. it's right down below the Elkins Depot. Really appreciate all the wonderful support you have given the channel my good friend. Will look forward to seeing your video. You'll like Elkins, a very clean town.

[@TriGogglin]

@@ccrx6700 🤣 putting the pressure on me i see. 🤣 well I'll see what I can do.. and I do appreciate all the support you've given my channel as well. Not to mention the friendship. It means alot. Happy New Year Dave.

[@Jeremy-de2of]

That’s a really nice museum I’ve been there a few times the Durban rocket also has a nice lil museum I like history on all the trains vary cool

[@ccrx6700]

Yes it is, a lot of cool stuff in there for how small it is. Really appreciate your paying us a visit and taking in the home movie my friend.

[@davidthorne4491]

happy new year thanks for the videos

[@ccrx6700]

Your certainly welcome David. And may you also have a most prosperous coming new year my friend. We really appreciate all the wonderful support you have given the channel.

[@Santafefrank]

Thanks Dave

[@ccrx6700]

Your very welcome Frank. So nice of you to stop by and take the tour with us. It was a small place but very interesting. Really appreciate all the wonderful support you have given the channel my friend.

[@michaelpass2176]

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! Dave.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Michael. May you also have a most prosperous coming new year my friend.

[@Jeremy-de2of]

I used to live by the tracks in Charleston wv I miss that train horn at 430 n the morning going up towards Montgomery to get loaded with coal at the prep

[@ccrx6700]

I've been all around the tracks at Charleston, that wood trestle bridge is pretty cool. We really appreciate your taking the time to pay us a visit and check out the video my friend.

[@tonypike5785]

Thanks

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Tony. Thank you so much for watching and for all your wonderful support of the channel my friend.

[@paulhare662]

Correct me if I'm misinformed but I've been told that a blue lantern was hung on a train or car that was out of service for repair or maintenance as a warning to not move the equipment. The 46 Caddy must havebeen a heck of a ride in it's day. Cheers, stay well.

[@ccrx6700]

That very well could have been Paul. Blue Flag Protection as written in the CFR says that a train or loco may not enter a track beyond that flag or at night a blue light in order to protect workers and cars being worked on. How cool would it have been to drive that Caddy down the tracks! Thanks so much my friend for stopping by and taking in today's presentation.

[@mackfisher4487]

0:23 Is the first baggage looking car pass the two engines actually a diesel engine generator for lights and stem heat and air-conditioning for the coaches?

[@ccrx6700]

I do believe you are correct in that Mack. Always is a pleasure to have you visit with us my friend. Thank You.

[@artillerest43rdva7]

that was a bit scary with “the company store” no competition , they named their prices for goods, miners had no say, and could not get items out side of the Co. store since they were not paid in currency, but Co. script! vendors would not take script, cash money only. so the mining Co made profits by both the production of coal, but in the excessive prices obtained in the store. great video, always learn something new! have a great one.

[@ccrx6700]

Yes Barry you are exactly right in your thoughts. The company owned the miners. Also where my grandfather worked, the company owned all the houses in town and rented them to the miners, so rent came out of their pay also. Really appreciate your watching this video, it was a small museum, but had some pretty interesting stuff in it.

[@michaelpass2176]

Dave you don’t see those engines much anymore let alone pulling AM-track carsorb4 AM track.😊

[@ccrx6700]

No sir you don't, good old engines but past their prime, just like me....LOL Really appreciate your watching tonight my friend.

[@ctprecast7437]

Great video love the museum.

[@paulbergen9114]

If that doctor had to take the pedal car back uphill I wonder how long it took there's a lot of expended energy likewise coming downhill don't lose control or you're off the end of the Switchback. Company stores head that way of keeping you captive as well as the company's money. Mining camps in the copper industry in upper Michigan actually had printed currency and oftentimes was accepted at independent businesses in say a 20 mile radius but the banking Acts Circa 1933 brought an and to that. Good old Railway Express Agency was the railroad version of UPS back in the day and one can just envisioned people running down to the depot when they heard the local coming with the combine that held the treasures they ordered out of the catalog. Big as the Pennsylvania was they were a minor player in West Virginia whereas the New York Central had numerous branches is their part of the state. A good Museum and a good train ride makes for a good day

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Paul for the really awesome comment. Interesting about the mining currency and I had never heard of the banking act, nice to learn new things like that. Really appreciate your visiting and for all your wonderful support of the channel my friend.

[@paulbergen9114]

@@ccrx6700 I also found out some iron mining companies and logging companies in Upper Minnesota did the same thing regarding company currency and it was printed just as fancy as the government to prevent counterfeiting. One of the other reasons it was used was because during the winter with the bad roads and lack of banks in the small logging and Mining towns it was easier to keep this in circulation vs. US currency and It kept the local Merchants happy.

[@Grandpa82547]

I do remember REA.( I'm 76) They were everywhere. I don't remember UPS from back then, and I don't think FEDEX even existed.

[@ccrx6700]

Interesting Grandpa. I looked up UPS started and it started in 1907 as American Messenger Co. Really appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in today my friend.

[@cedarcam]

Thats an interesting museum. I had to laugh at the horses hard hats, I wonder if ours had them as well. There were companies here who only paid out in their own money as well which tied you to that company and if you got fired you had nothing. Not far from me is a whole village and former mill that was built for the mill workers There was no alcohol there and they had to go to church every Sunday It is now a heritage site and the mill made into a museum.

[@ccrx6700]

it was small but had a lot of cool stuff cedarcam. I like how they focused on coal. Very interesting about the companies also doing that in UK. I always learn something new from you. My grandfather worked in Buckeye mine and lived in a company house where the town was build and owned by the company. Lot of hard stories from back then he told me. Really appreciate all the wonderful support you have given the channel my friend.

[@espeescotty]

Boy, look at the smoke storm blowing into those houses at 8:58! I hope the whites weren't hanging out on the line at that moment...mama'd be fit to be tied! Of course, that was life in the hollers back then, just the way things were. A tough life.

[@ccrx6700]

Can you imagine Altoona Pa. or Pittsburgh back in the day with all that coal fired steam locos. When the steel mills were in Pittsburgh with the steam trains no one could hang their laundry out on a line and have it stay clean. A black cloud hung over everything. Thanks so much for watching the show today my friend.

[@espeescotty]

@@ccrx6700 I know, I've often wonder about that too.

[@alkennedy1124]

The train whistles are the right word for it because it derives from the Steam whistle,,, if you look about 1/4 mile from all legal railroad crossing roads you will three post that have the letter W on them that stands for whistle indicates where the engineer is supposed to start blowing the whistle coming to the Crossing ok they are technically airhorns but the legal description of them are whistles train whistles or locomotive whistles thanks people ,thank you Dave and wife good vlog praise Jesus Christ grace grace amen 🙏 thank s BigAl California

[@ccrx6700]

Thanks BigAl for the nice comment. Always is a pleasure to have you visit with us and write in my friend. Nothing like the sound of a steam whistle, specially after dark.

[@grvolans]

Hey Dave. Just wanted to let you know I got two caboose lamps that were rescued from the Elkins roundhouse before it burned. I know a guy whose Dad was the foreman there. He took everything he could before he left on retirement. Will send you a pic if you have a facebook account.

[@ccrx6700]

Now that's pretty special, I'm very glad for you to have those. I don't do FB. Thought about making a page just for this channel, but I could never even begin to keep up with monitoring it or replying. Maybe when I retire can start one. Thanks so much for stopping by and watching today my friend.

[@garykuipers2696]

16 tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter don't you call me I can't go, I owe my soul to the company store. My parents had a friend who was a miner, lived in Sugar Notch, PA. Died of black lung.

[@ccrx6700]

That song was so right in it's words. My grandfather worked for Buckeye Mine. Lived in a company built town and company house and owed his soul to the company store. That's where they bought everything. Town even had a company doctor. That was a hard life back then, he told me many a story. Also the town was patrolled by the company police, called the Coal and Iron Police who rode horses and would even ride them into the houses at times. My grandfather was instrumental in getting the union in. Before unions came mining was brutal.

[@opieshomeshop]

The train horns will go perfect under the hood of my honda accrd... That rail speeder is something people still do. They put a simple outrigger on their mountain bikes and a lock to lock the front teering and they have flat cars people make with lawn mower engines and they ride abandoned rails. You can find videos of these folks. Ive been planning a project for this summer to make a rail flat with a small motorcycle engine. I don't trust lawn mower engines. Too much to comment on here other than you ARE teasing us snowed in folk with summer......

[@ccrx6700]

That was what I was thinking David, just got to get the horn out of there for ya...LOL Some RR's in the past had used a similar 3 wheel speeder, seems like that would be an awesome ride down the tracks on one of them. Always a pleasure to have you visit with me my friend. That rail flat will be a cool video to see you making it.